Birding & Wildlife watching Nauradehi

When you wish to explore an unexplored destination some one should have done the ground work for you. Nauradehi has been explored by Indiana Safari, it is a package tour company in Madhya Pradesh. I have been associated as a naturalist and birder with the company.

Nauradehi is a wildlife sanctuary situated in the districts of Sagar, Narsinghpur and Damoh near to Jabalpur town in MP India. The WLS is unique since the ecosystem differs much from major tiger reserves like Bandhavgarh, Pench and Kanha.

Nauradehi WLS is slotted for Cheetah trans location in Madhya Pradesh in India. This will give the sanctuary a better protection since the conservation efforts will increase four fold. Noradehi is best suited for Cheetah relocation and the black buck found in the open areas is the ideal prey base.

The mixed forest canopy and great water bodies yield a different floral and fauna elements. The Indian wolf and chinkara are less seen in major tiger reserves. Other wild animals seen are Nilgai or Bluebull in wild abundance, black buck, barking deer, sloth bear, Indian fox, spotted deer, wild boars and langurs. The tiger is less seen and so is the leopard. More exploration will result in new discoveries. Nauradehi is home to wild crocodiles or muggers and otters. They can be seen in the rivers that criss cross the wildlife sanctuary.

Wildlife safaris at Nauradehi are conducted around Chiwala Lake and nearby forest patches. Bird watching is carried along with the safari as the forest and water bodies are ideal habitat for the avian species. The avifauna is less studied here but notable finds are spotted gray creeper and white bellied blue flycatcher.

So far more than hundred birds have been check listed. More will be discovered inf further explorations. From tourism potential Noradehi is an excellent place since the flora and fauna seen at major tiger reserves differs from that of Kanha, Pench and Bandhavgarh in MP.

Indiana Safari tour operators provide Nauradehi safari packages for wildlife and bird watching. The packages are affordable and wildlife safari and birding is done on jeep and on foot. The winters are the best season to visit Noradehi for bird watching. For wildlife safaris all open seasons are good, but summers are hot.

For accommodations, this WLS has two rest houses within the forests. But you need prior permission from the DFO on order to stay here. The accommodation is basic and one needs to buy rations locally and ask the keeper to prepare your meals. Hence best way to see the destination is from Jabalpur which is about 100 km.

For safari you need an open jeep since at present the road is very rugged inside the park area. Family cars are not able to bear the stress of the jungle road and tough terrain. Hence it is better to hire an open jeep from Jabalpur.

Nauradehi Checklist of Birds

Common Chif Chaff
Moustached warbler
Common Woodshrike
Painted stork
Peafowl
Verditor Flycatcher
Lesser adjutant stork
Lesser whistling teal
Black Headed Oriole
Golden oriole
White browed wagtail
Little egret
White Wagtail
Cattle egret
Spotted dove
Ring Dove
Crested serpent eagle
Red Throated Flycatcher
White Eyed Buzzard
Grey Headed fish Eagle
White Bellied Sea Eagle?
Booted eagle
Shikra
Plum headed parakeet
Common myna
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Sarus crane
Tree pie
Asian paradise flycatcher
Tickell's flowerpecker
Chestnut winged petronia
Rose ringed parakeet
Crested Bunting
Greater couckal
Little Minivet
White browed fantail flycatcher
White eye
Ashy Prinia
Plain Prinia
Red Vented Bulbul
White Bellied Drongo
Black Drongo
Orange Headed Ground Thrush
Wooly Necked Stork
Open Billed Stork
Crested Hawk Eagle
Black Redstart
Grey Breasted Prinia
King Vulture
Long Billed Vulture
White Backed Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
Green Sand Piper
Temminck's Stint
Oriental Darter

Reaching Nauradehi is quiet easy if your are in Jabalpur City. The road to this wonderful wildlife refuge is well maintained and it takes about and hour and half to cover the distance.

The wildlife sanctuary is easily accessible from Jabalpur in MP. It is approximately eighty six km from the city. Accommodation at Nuardehi is not always available hence the stay in Jabalpur hotels is preferred. In a day safari one can drive down from Jabalpur and reach Nauradehi for birding and wildlife watching. Another places of interest nearby is the Rani Durgavati WLS which is ideal for bird watching and sightseeing.

Noradehi is a diverse habitat if mixed forest deciduous type. This is a unique ecosystem in Central India. The prevalence of wide variety of species some of which are not easily seen elsewhere.

The region is hilly with open grasslands and dense forests spread over an area of more than one thousand square kilometers. The expanse of the sanctuary contains a large number of niche ecosystems within. Varied terrain offers impressive flora and fauna diversity.